Ron and Jen’s Great Escape – 7-20-2022 – Ron St. Pierre and Jen Brien

by Ron St. Pierre and Jen Brien, commentary

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

I’m not really sure why this is a thing, but “Christmas in July” is definitely here! From HSN to QVC, our local Wright’s Dairy Farm offering EGGNOG, to the selections last week on my satellite radio “old time radio” channel offering only CHRISTMAS SHOWS ALL WEEK…ugh. CHRISTMAS IS HERE! ALL I have to say about this is…no. Just no. I can barely get through the regular holiday season and now for the sake of the almighty dollar they’re trying to get me to pony up some cash IN JULY. Thing is, it’s not happening for 2 reasons – 1) I can’t wear bulky clothes and cover up EGGNOG THIGHS in July, and 2) It’s just not as much fun. The holidays are special because it’s a time when we can lose ourselves in Baked Ham, chocolate mousse, and lots of parties! Christmas in July ain’t right. The irony is, however, “they say” this is ACTUALLY the time of year Jesus was really born. Now how about that! Maybe THEY are onto something after all. 

Till next week friends, – Jen

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IS IGNORANCE REALLY BLISS?

AXIOS reports Americans are tuning out news, saying engagement with news content has plunged during the first half of this year, compared to the first half of 2021. This comes after a drop in 2021 following historic highs in 2020, with news engagement sometimes even below pre-pandemic levels. Even with such major news stories as the war in Ukraine, Roe v Wade being overturned, the Jan 6^th hearings, and several deadly mass shootings, it’s still not as high a level of engagement as year one of the pandemic and the 2020 election. The AXIOS survey says Americans are simply exhausted by the constant news headlines. Viewership of the three cable news networks… CNN, FOX and MSNBC is down 19% in prime time. I guess with so many negative headlines, no news IS good news.

SANTA’S HELPERS

Toys r Us is making a comeback this holiday season. Macy’s announced the toy brand will be in every one of its locations in time for Christmas shopping. The in-store Toys r Us shops will vary in size from one thousand to ten thousand square feet. The Macy’s locations will begin opening later this month with plans to have all locations open by October 15^th. The Toys r Us brand declared bankruptcy back in 2018.

AND THIS YEAR I MEAN IT!

Every year plenty of folks vow to eat healthy. Every year most fail. A new survey says there’s a reason why… there’s no fun in eating healthy. The polls find 48% of Americans admit if they followed a “healthy lifestyle” they’d be miserable. 59% think they’d have to eat food that doesn’t taste good. One of the most difficult things about trying to eat healthy is the cost. Eating healthy’s not cheap and with inflation at a 40-year height, it’s much cheaper to grab those 99-cent frozen burritos!

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Ron St. Pierre is a veteran broadcaster whose career has spanned over four decades. Ron has programmed, performed on and managed WHJJ, WPRO, WWRX, 790 The Score in Providence, as well as WBZT and WKGR in West Palm Beach and WABC in New York City. Ron also anchored sports on WPRI Ch 12 in Providence. He is a member of both the Rhode Island Radio and Television and the City of Pawtucket Halls of Fame. He was born and raised in Pawtucket.

Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.

Hazel, Ron’s dog, makes regular appearances.

“Ron and Jen’s Great Escape” podcast, a more lighthearted look at the events happening around us, can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts, with new episodes premiering each Wednesday and listen to Ron and Jen’s Great Escape call in radio show Friday afternoons 2 til 4 on 101.1 FM, 1540 WADK and streaming everywhere on WADK.COM.